Appendix D - Dossier (PDF) - Tera

date: 20–JUL–2005
5. Toxicity Substance ID: 71–43–2
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Remark: Results of cytogenetic analyses of peripheral blood
lymphocytes from 58 benzene exposed shoe workers and 20
population controls without exposure to mutagenic or
carcinogenic agents were compared. The exposed group had a
higher percentage of smokers (68% vs. 35%) and alcohol
drinkers (39% vs. 5%). The exposed group had higher
frequencies of aberrations (breaks, gaps, rearrangements).
Working period, smoking, and alcohol intake were thought to
be unrelated to chromosomal changes in these groups (except
for alcohol intake which was associated with increased
frequency of breaks). No benzene exposure measurements
weretaken, but in Turkey the MAC is 20 ppm, and Aksoy
indicated that maximum benzene exposure for Turkish
shoemakers was between 210–610 ppm.
Source: Deutsche Shell Chemie GmbH Eschborn
06–JAN–1997 (1169)
Remark: The authors calculated the incidence of leukemia among
28,500 shoeworkers chronically exposed to benzene in
Istanbul. The maximum benzene concentrations to which
theseworkers were exposed was 210–650 ppm. During the time
period from 1967 to September 1973, 26 cases of acute
leukemia or preleukemia were admitted to several clinics.
Among these patients the duration of benzene exposure
rangedfrom 1–15 years. The incidence of leukemia was
calculated to be 13 per 100,000 workers, which is
statistically significantly greater compared with the
general population. The authors conclude that these data
provide evidence for a leukemogenic effect of benzene in
man.
Source: Deutsche Shell Chemie GmbH Eschborn
06–JAN–1997 (17)
Remark: Two cases of acute leukemia (lymphoblastic and
myeloblastic)are presented. The commonality of these cases
is that the two are related (one is the paternal uncle of
the other) andboth had chronic exposure to benzene from
working as shoemakers. The thesis of this report is that
genetic predisposition may be significant in susceptibility
to benzene poisoning, and that some genetic factors were
triggered by the 4–6 years of benzene exposure experienced
at work by these patients.
Source: Deutsche Shell Chemie GmbH Eschborn
06–JAN–1997 (20)
Remark: This is a review of benzene as a carcinogen and covers some
of the same issues covered in Aksoy (1989). Topics
include:incidence of leukemia among Turkish shoemakers;
types of leukemia (distribution of types of leukemia –– AML
most common; leukemia preceeded by pancytopenia; duration
of
exposure –– no clear relationship between duration of
benzene exposure and type of leukemia; genetics and
Appendix D: Benzene SIDS Dossier
– 686/957 –